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In a pact with Technicolor and A Stark Production, DHX Media enters in a number of intl. broadcast deals

DHX Media,Technicolor and A Stark Production have entered into several new international broadcast deals for the CG-animated underwater adventure series The Deep.

The Deep is a co-production between Australia-based A Stark Production (scripts, design and music) and Canada-based DHX Media (animation, voices and post-production), with distribution also handled by DHX Media. Technicolor, underlying rights holder to The Deep has oversight of the brand’s licensing extensions, with CPLG, a DHX Media company and one of the world’s leading licensing agencies, serving as the multi-territory licensing agent for the brand, including North America, EMEA (excluding Germany) and Latin America.

 The entities with whom deals for season two’s 13 half-hour episodes were signed are Universal Kids (U.S.), Nickelodeon (Greece), NRK Super (Norway), YLE (Finland), POP (Italy), Biggs (Portugal), RTBF’s OUFtivi (Belgium), MBC3 (Middle East), Minimax (CEE), KidZone TV (Baltics), Multimania (Russia), Hop! (Israel), SVT (Sweden), TSR (Switzerland), SRC (French Canada), and Zap (Angola and Mozambique).

These add to a number of previously announced deals which includes Australia’s ABC ME, CBBC in the U.K., Netflix in the U.S., Germany’s Super RTL and Canada’s Family CHRGD.

The Deep follows the adventures of the Nekton family, a brilliant team of underwater explorers. With state-of-the-art technology and an unquenchable thirst for discovery, the Nektons explore the mysterious depths of the ocean, where most of our world lies unexplored and unexplained. While others look up to the stars, this family knows that an infinite number of things shine brightly in the darkness below.

The Deep is a place where leviathans swim through sunken cities where pirates lurk amidst floating black markets, and where a mysterious group of Guardians hide long lost secrets.

Season two’s much anticipated new episodes will launch on Australia’s ABC ME daily from August 22. It has already started rolling out weekly in July on the UK’s CBBC in its popular Faves at Five Slot.

“A commitment to a second season of The Deep from so many international broadcasters is testament to the show’s massive popularity with kids and families, worldwide,” said Josh Scherba, EVP Distribution and Content at DHX Media. “The Deep is fun, fresh and full of excitement, and we’re extremely pleased with the results of this collaboration with Technicolor and A Stark Production,” he added.

 Since its launch, The Deep has proven to be a top-rated show that resonates with kids around the world.

It has garnered international industry nominations and awards including the 2017 Kidscreen Award for Best New Series (Kids Category) and most recently, the Golden Sparrow Award at the German Children’s Media Festival. The series has also been nominated for the 50th Annual AWGIE Awards in Australia for Children’s Television (5 to14 years old).

In season two, the Nekton family’s search for the lost city of Lemuria becomes urgent, as its legendary power is the only thing that can stop the colossal, dangerous creatures known as Monumentials from waking up and a young new rival wants that power for himself!

 The series is based on the Aurealis Award-winning graphic novel series created by multi-award-winning best-selling comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor illustrated by James Brouwer  and published by Gestalt Comics. Taylor serves as co-creator and lead writer of the series and Brouwer serves as co-creator and art director.

 

Mattel is hurrying up with its turnaround plans with an eight-figure upfront deal.

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Global toymaker Mattel is hurrying up with its turnaround plans having presented YouTube Kids with an eight-figure upfront deal.

The deal comes as Mattel continues to increase its spend in the digital world, recognising the influence YouTube Kids has among young consumers today.

Mattel’s commitment to online advertising has increased in the last year.

“This is a first of its kind and a first ever such deal for Mattel,” said Catherine Balsam-Schwaber, Mattel’s chief content officer.

“We are really excited. This is a reflection of a shift we are seeing in digital media. With anything that is new, you wait to see if there is momentum. That has become clear. But you see this generation after generation as media habits change.”

The new investment also arrives as a boon to YouTube’s child-friendly platform, crediting it with the backing of one of the world’s biggest toy makers.

 

Hasbro gets into children’s programming

Hasbro is getting into children’s programming with the launch of Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters on Netflix.

“We have been waiting for just the right moment to re-imagine Stretch for a new audience and our friends at Netflix got it right away; they have been a tremendous partner,” said Stephen Davis, chief content officer and executive vice president, Hasbro.

“We have hit a superhero sweet spot, and with Netflix’s global reach, kids across the world will fall in love with its fun characters and action-packed storyline,” he added.Okja live streaming movie

Developed by Hasbro Studios, Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters is the first property from the global toymaker to be aired as a Netflix original series.

The animated series follows the adventures of high school student Jake Armstrong and his best friends Nathan Park and Ricardo Perez who are accidentally exposed to an experimental chemical that transforms them into heroes.

Together Netflix and Hasbro will offer viewers a new generation of Stretch Armstrong, a toy line first introduced in 1976, with 26 episodes for Netflix members across the globe.

Sony Pictures Television Networks acquires 95 pc stake in anime distributor Funimation Productions

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Sony Pictures Television Networks is set to acquire a 95% majority stake in US-based anime distributor Funimation Productions for about $143 million, it is  reported.

Once done, the deal would value the company at $150 million. Funimation Productions was founded in 1994 to distribute various Japanese series’ to western markets.Fifty Shades Darker streaming

Funimation’s expansive catalogue includes such widely popular series’ as Dragon Ball Z, My Hero Academia, One Piece and Attack on Titan as well as movie titles like Your Name (pictured) which drew in massive audiences, grossing over $154 million worldwide.

The new deal will see content brought to Sony’s Animax platform in 23 countries including Japan.

“With the acquisition of Funimation, the combined [IP] of Animax, Kids Station and Funimation allows us to deliver the best anime to fans across all screens and platforms,” said Andy Kaplan, president of worldwide networks for Sony Pictures Television, in a statement.

In addition to physical and broadcast releases for its properties, Funimation also operates the FunimationNow streaming platform for North American English-language audiences.

 

Leaving past behind, Condé Nast Italia to focus on its most prestigious magazines

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As advertising pressure and a slump in demand has forced the closure of menswear title L’Uomo Vogue, the bridal focused Vogue Sposa, its children’s title Vogue Bambini and the accessories publication Vogue Gioiello, Condé Nast Italia has decided to focus on its most prestigious magazines including its Vogue title.

The final issues of L’Uomo Vogue and Vogue Gioiello will hit newsstands in December.

“Our strategy is based on a necessary focus on our top brands on which we will invest even more in the future, making them more exclusive and increasing the distance in terms of perceived quality between us and our competitors,” chief executive officer Fedele Usai has been quoted to have said. “We need to avoid to divert attention to brand extensions that are no longer central in the mind of our consumers and in the strategies of our advertisers,” he added.

The shake-up will leave Condé Nast Italia with Vanity Fair, Vogue Italia, Glamour, GQ, Wired, AD, Condé Nast Travel. The closing down of the publisher’s smaller titles follows similar moves at Condé Nast in the US where titles including Lucky, Self and Details were folded over the past few years.

While no doubt a significant cost cutting measure, Usai says they will invest even more in the top titles across all the platforms. He cited Vogue Italia as an example, which under new editor Emanuele Farneti has launched a new, bigger format on glossier paper and more written content.

Farneti succeeded the late Franca Sozzani, whose popular image-based approach and tackling of issues like racial diversity and plastic surgery bolstered the brand’s relevancy.

“The publishing market is undergoing an epochal revolution that involves both readers and advertisers,” Usai tells BoF. “There is no simple recipe for dealing with such moments, but the most unacceptable mistake would be to make no decision.”

L’Uomo Vogue, which has a readership of 300,000, is also edited by Farneti. Vogue Sposa, the bridal magazine with two issues a year, has an international readership of 200,000 and is edited by Enrica Ponzellini. Vogue Bambini, a bilingual magazine focused on children’s fashion with four issues a year, is also run by Ponzellini. The other closure is Vogue Gioiello, known as the “accessories bible,” which has four issues a year in English and Italian, and is edited by Elisabetta Barracchia.

Condé Nast Italia will focus on its most prestigious magazines including its Vogue title as advertising pressure and a slump in demand has forced the closure of menswear title L’Uomo Vogue, the bridal focused Vogue Sposa, its children’s title Vogue Bambini and the accessories publication Vogue Gioiello.

The final issues of L’Uomo Vogue and Vogue Gioiello will hit newsstands in December.

Spin Master acquires toy company Aerobie

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After having acquired the assets of games company Marbles in May this year and signing a 10-year deal with Monster Jam last week, Spin Master has snapped up outdoor toy company Aerobie.

The Toronto -based toy company picked up the leading producer of outdoor flying disks and sports toys for an undisclosed sum in a transaction that closed on July 28.

The move is a part of the company’s continuing attempts to diversify its product offering and build on the outdoor business segment it began building with the acquisition of Swimways in 2016 for US$85 million in cash.

Aerobie was founded in 1984 by Alan Adler, an engineer and toy inventor, in Palo Alto, California. Adler focused on aerodynamics to create better flying toys, which led to the creation of the company’s mainstay flying ring format. Aerobie holds the Guinness World Record for the farthest thrown object and its products are distributed in more than 60 countries.

Spin Master plans to work on innovation for the Aerobie line through its global research and development network and grow sales internationally. It will be managed by Swimways and join the Coop family of branded active outdoor lifestyle products.

Since filing an IPO in 2015, Spin Master has acquired seven companies including Swedish app maker Toca Boca and New York’s Cardinal Games.

Aerobie was founded in 1984 by Alan Adler, an engineer and toy inventor, in Palo Alto, California. Adler focused on aerodynamics to create better flying toys, which led to the creation of the company’s mainstay flying ring format. Aerobie holds the Guinness World Record for the farthest thrown object and its products are distributed in more than 60 countries.

 

 

Perfetti van Melle teams up with Thailand brand Take n’ Care

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Perfetti van Melle has teamed up with Thailand brand Take n’ Care for a new line of bath and body products inspired by Chupa Chups.

Dubbed Don’t Eat Me, the collection features Chupa Chups flavours including strawberry cream, ice cola, cherry cola, vanilla paradise, green apple, coconut and pineapple and choco mint.

With the teaming up in force, fans will be able to get their hands on a range of items from bath, hair and shower products to body lotion and hand and nail cream.

“We are excited to have a new partner on board for the Thailand market,” said Marta Ballesteros, licensing area manager of Perfetti Van Melle.

“Take n’ Care has captured perfectly the essence of the brand and its forever fun spirit so they have created a surprising and high quality range of bath products for the first time ever in Thailand. We invite you to discover them,” she added.

The range is currently available throughout Thailand in supermarkets and department stores.

 

New Minecraft: Official Magazine will hit store shelves in the UK from 2nd August

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Egmont Publishing has declared that the new Minecraft: Official Magazine will hit store shelves in the UK from August 2nd.

The publishing house has been earlier responsible for the official Minecraft books that topped charts selling upwards of 9 million copies in the UK market alone.

The Minecraft: Official Magazine is the only Minecraft magazine that is developed in partnership with Mojang for its 55 million-strong active user base.

“Outstanding publishing for children means curating and packaging quality content in a desirable print format that they can collect and share with friends,” said Cally Poplak, MD Egmont Publishing.

“We are proud to have done this with our best-selling Minecraft books and we cannot wait to share with the Minecraft community the only magazine that Mojang endorses,” he added.

The debut issue will go behind the scenes at Mojang’s Stockholm HQ, in addition to 14 pages of hints and tips.

Priced at £4.99, the Minecraft: Official Magazine will have a monthly on-sale period.

 

Sainsbury’s teams up with three for an exclusive Peppa Pig book

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Sainsbury’s has teamed up with eOne, BookTrust and Penguin Random House for an exclusive Peppa Pig book to be sold in its stores.

The interactive story book titled Shop with Peppa will see the popular pre-school character complete a series of day-to-day activities, it has been reported.

The activity forms part of a broader alliance for the Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards which is held in partnership with literacy charity BookTrust in August.

Pete Selby, head of books and music at Sainsbury’s, said: “We’re delighted to have commissioned this exclusive book with our partners BookTrust, eOne and Penguin Random House to help to shine a light on how important it is for young children to be reading and enjoying the fun of a story.”

Peppa Pig costume character appearances at selected Sainsbury’s stores will help to back the initiative.

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Hong Kong-based VTech expands children’s wearable line

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After a 12 per cent increase in group revenue to a record US$2.1 million for the year ended March 31, 2017, Hong Kong-based VTech has expanded its Kidizoom children’s wearable line with two new camera-equipped devices—the Kidizoom Action Cam 180 and Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2.

Selling for US$49.99, the Action Cam 180 features a 180-degree rotatable camera that lets kids take pictures and selfies from all angles also includes slow- and fast-motion shooting options.live streaming movie Get Out online

It also comes with the same accessories of the original Kidizoom Action Cam, including bike and skateboard mounts, a water-resistant case and three games.

The Smartwatch DX2 that costs US$59.9 lets kids take pictures, record videos, use a motion sensor for active play challenges and play games including Monster Catcher, which uses a camera and augmented reality to help kids find and capture monsters in the real world.

It also features 55 digital and analogue customizable watch faces to help kids learn to tell time. There’s also an option to customize pictures and videos with an accompanying app called Silly Yourself.

Both products are currently available at major US retailers for kids aged four and up.

VTech’s recent revenue success follows its acquisition of kids tech company Leapfrog last year, which boosted its revenue by 5.9% to US$983 million for the sixth-month period ended September 2016.